Got this question from a coach today:
Christopher E. Shaull wrote
Is there material out there that deals mainly with the overall theory of defenses. What I would like is What is the purpose of the 4-3 or 4-4 or 5-2? What is the strength and the weakness of each over the other?. How do you shift the secondary for protection. What do you look for on offense to key these changes and how do you break it down to teach in only two practices a week. I have done ok focusing on just two major factors a year. As 10 year olds they learned technique and gaps, as 11 year olds we focused on Containment and pursuit angels and as 12 year olds we focused on different techniques for the front five and the the secondary cover two and three. We had problems with the cover three and ended up dropping it for a nickle package. As 13 year olds I want to focus on the 4-3 and 4-4 but I'm having trouble understanding how to teach zone coverage with the LB's which I have come to learn means reading keys.
So . . . I put together the following answer . . . and feel free to help out a guy who is asking us for help:
This is strictly from my experience as a coach over a 50+ year experience as a player, coach and student of the game. Early on . . . defense was geared to stop the single wing, so the old single wing Ds were things like the 6-2-3, 6-3-2, 7 Box, 7 Diamond, and Gap 8.
The Split-T is a formation used by the offense in football games in the 1940s and 50's and a variation on the T formation. Developed by Missouri Tigers head coach Don Faurot, the Split-T was first used in the 1941 season and allowed the Tigers to win all but their season opening match against the Ohio State Buckeyes and in the 1942 Sugar Bowl versus Fordham University[1]. It is most well-known for helping the Oklahoma Sooners win a record-setting 47 straight games and two national titles between 1953 and '57.
With the advent of the Split T, and Wing T formations, play action passes, etc., along came the 5-2 Oklahoma Defense. It is a good defense against the run and also provides for covering the increased passing game that came with T formation football.5-2
A 5-2 defense is a defense with 5 defensive linemen and 2 linebackers. The defensive linemen almost always line up to the weak side, with the backside lineman on the outside shoulder of the end man on the offensive LOS.Because the extra defensive lineman makes this a strong defense against the run, it is more popular in leagues (or specific situations) that favor the running game. Thus, this defense is most often used in middle school and little league, and occasionally in different looks and variations in the NFL or college. The 5-2 used to be more popular in college football, when the running game was much more prevalent; for example, teams in the 1980s would often employ the 5-2 to combat the extremely run-oriented offenses of the time. From the mid-1950s until the early 1990s, the 5-2 was the base formation for most teams in the Big Eight Conference, due to the powerful rushing attacks of the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Oklahoma Sooners, and later in the 1980s, the Colorado Buffaloes. Currently, the Arizona Cardinals use this defense regularly, in addition to their base 4-3.The benefit of having a 5-2 is that it adds size to your defense by replacing a linebacker with a defensive lineman. This helps in short-yardage situations where you want to stall the line of scrimmage and not give up the inside run. The disadvantage is in pass coverage -- most 5-2 teams will rush all 5 defensive linemen leaving only 6 pass defenders. In some circumstances a 5-2 team will drop one of the linemen, typically an end, off into coverage. But this is primarily a situational defense, and not often used in situations where downfield pass coverage is a significant concern.
As it developed, the 5-2 added slanting defensive fronts which really became popular in the 60s: the angle 5 defense was combined with the "Monster" which really was a strong safety that would align to the strength of the formation determined by the Flanker or slot back. With the dead T or single wing, there was not much need for the monster, but as people started to split people in the formation, the monster help with run support and flat coverage to strong side. A wise secondary coach once told me that if you do not want to get beat deep, make sure you have those three deep defenders which can be achieved with this alignment. Then things really began to change in the 70s and especially the 80s. The wishbone was really popular which meant that the 50 and 60 fronts would stay in place. But the development of the one back systems begin which cause havoc with defensive coordinators because the offense is spread 4 defenders across the field and you just cannot adequately cover them with a 52 defense.
Early on, coaches (including me) would drop of a DE into what was called a 'robber' position to take away and cover one of those receivers. The only person that got robbed was me because I was trying to take someone who was not used to playing pass coverage, the DE, and making him cover one of their best players, usually the Tailback who got split. So . . . I had to give up the 52 defense in order to get better pass coverage and so did lots of other 52 diehard coaches. But when teams come our in shotgun (instant pass protection), no backs and call the play at the LOS, you are not going to be able to play any kind of 52 defense. You will get killed.
We experimented with a 44 look for a time. I tried to incorporate 52 monster-angle defense into a 44 look. Work for a short time against pro style attacks but not the one back spread systems of the 90s. So we adapted to a 4-3-4. We feel that we can adjust out of this alignment better than any other. By that I mean we can get ourselves to a 50 D or a 30 defense faster, easier, with as little a disruption to other members of the defense as possible. For Example, when we have to go up against a Double Wing offense, double tight-double wing, we shift into a 50 look by placing the MLB'er down over the center to take away the inside game, disrupt the pulling linemen, and force inside out sideline to sideline. EVERYONE else on the defense plays their regular position. That equals little disruption.
We can also move to a 30 defense and play a 3-5-3 by removing one DT, having the other DT play over the center and everyone else plays their regular position and responsibilities.We have 7.25 coverages that we can choose from at any time. Basically we have 3 running defensive alignments (mostly 52), 3 passing defenses and coverages, a goal line D, and that .25 defense, the prevent which we would use only on the last play of the half or the game and at no other time. My son calls it 'the prevent winning' defense.
If we are playing a running scheme, we will practice the running defenses and coverage more that week. Next week we see the wide open shotgun no back people, we would practice the passing defenses and coverages. But they all would be ready at any given time because we have practiced them all season, each year, every year.
So . . . that's a bit on how and why things developed and are played according to my experience.....and the experience of many others.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
This is strictly from my experience as a coach over a 50+ year experience as a player, coach and student of the game. Early on . . . defense was geared to stop the single wing, so the old single wing Ds were things like the 6-2-3, 6-3-2, 7 Box, 7 Diamond, and Gap 8.
The Split-T is a formation used by the offense in football games in the 1940s and 50's and a variation on the T formation. Developed by Missouri Tigers head coach Don Faurot, the Split-T was first used in the 1941 season and allowed the Tigers to win all but their season opening match against the Ohio State Buckeyes and in the 1942 Sugar Bowl versus Fordham University[1]. It is most well-known for helping the Oklahoma Sooners win a record-setting 47 straight games and two national titles between 1953 and '57.
With the advent of the Split T, and Wing T formations, play action passes, etc., along came the 5-2 Oklahoma Defense. It is a good defense against the run and also provides for covering the increased passing game that came with T formation football.5-2
A 5-2 defense is a defense with 5 defensive linemen and 2 linebackers. The defensive linemen almost always line up to the weak side, with the backside lineman on the outside shoulder of the end man on the offensive LOS.Because the extra defensive lineman makes this a strong defense against the run, it is more popular in leagues (or specific situations) that favor the running game. Thus, this defense is most often used in middle school and little league, and occasionally in different looks and variations in the NFL or college. The 5-2 used to be more popular in college football, when the running game was much more prevalent; for example, teams in the 1980s would often employ the 5-2 to combat the extremely run-oriented offenses of the time. From the mid-1950s until the early 1990s, the 5-2 was the base formation for most teams in the Big Eight Conference, due to the powerful rushing attacks of the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Oklahoma Sooners, and later in the 1980s, the Colorado Buffaloes. Currently, the Arizona Cardinals use this defense regularly, in addition to their base 4-3.The benefit of having a 5-2 is that it adds size to your defense by replacing a linebacker with a defensive lineman. This helps in short-yardage situations where you want to stall the line of scrimmage and not give up the inside run. The disadvantage is in pass coverage -- most 5-2 teams will rush all 5 defensive linemen leaving only 6 pass defenders. In some circumstances a 5-2 team will drop one of the linemen, typically an end, off into coverage. But this is primarily a situational defense, and not often used in situations where downfield pass coverage is a significant concern.
As it developed, the 5-2 added slanting defensive fronts which really became popular in the 60s: the angle 5 defense was combined with the "Monster" which really was a strong safety that would align to the strength of the formation determined by the Flanker or slot back. With the dead T or single wing, there was not much need for the monster, but as people started to split people in the formation, the monster help with run support and flat coverage to strong side. A wise secondary coach once told me that if you do not want to get beat deep, make sure you have those three deep defenders which can be achieved with this alignment. Then things really began to change in the 70s and especially the 80s. The wishbone was really popular which meant that the 50 and 60 fronts would stay in place. But the development of the one back systems begin which cause havoc with defensive coordinators because the offense is spread 4 defenders across the field and you just cannot adequately cover them with a 52 defense.
Early on, coaches (including me) would drop of a DE into what was called a 'robber' position to take away and cover one of those receivers. The only person that got robbed was me because I was trying to take someone who was not used to playing pass coverage, the DE, and making him cover one of their best players, usually the Tailback who got split. So . . . I had to give up the 52 defense in order to get better pass coverage and so did lots of other 52 diehard coaches. But when teams come our in shotgun (instant pass protection), no backs and call the play at the LOS, you are not going to be able to play any kind of 52 defense. You will get killed.
We experimented with a 44 look for a time. I tried to incorporate 52 monster-angle defense into a 44 look. Work for a short time against pro style attacks but not the one back spread systems of the 90s. So we adapted to a 4-3-4. We feel that we can adjust out of this alignment better than any other. By that I mean we can get ourselves to a 50 D or a 30 defense faster, easier, with as little a disruption to other members of the defense as possible. For Example, when we have to go up against a Double Wing offense, double tight-double wing, we shift into a 50 look by placing the MLB'er down over the center to take away the inside game, disrupt the pulling linemen, and force inside out sideline to sideline. EVERYONE else on the defense plays their regular position. That equals little disruption.
We can also move to a 30 defense and play a 3-5-3 by removing one DT, having the other DT play over the center and everyone else plays their regular position and responsibilities.We have 7.25 coverages that we can choose from at any time. Basically we have 3 running defensive alignments (mostly 52), 3 passing defenses and coverages, a goal line D, and that .25 defense, the prevent which we would use only on the last play of the half or the game and at no other time. My son calls it 'the prevent winning' defense.
If we are playing a running scheme, we will practice the running defenses and coverage more that week. Next week we see the wide open shotgun no back people, we would practice the passing defenses and coverages. But they all would be ready at any given time because we have practiced them all season, each year, every year.
So . . . that's a bit on how and why things developed and are played according to my experience.....and the experience of many others.
My son, the LB'er coach for Clackamas High School and our former defensive coordinator posted this response for you:
I'll address linebacker zone pass coverage:
Linebacker zone coverages can be frustrating for coaches because young players confuse "zone" with standing stationary in a spot. Teach your LBs to attack receivers who are threatening their zone. Eyes should be on receivers, not the QB. Staring at the QB causes LBs to stop their feet which is not good. Here is the progression I use to teach inside linebackers pass defense in a 4-4:
1. Read the line for a pass/run read. (Take read steps)
2. If your read pass, eyes immediately go to your biggest threat to your zone-usually a TE or slot receiver.
3. Wall the inside receiver. Do not allow him an inside cut.
4. If he breaks outside, communicate with an "out" call. Then eyes go to outside receiver who likely will be running an in route
5. If he curls up, cover him.
6. If he releases down field, provide underneath coverage to 12-15 yards.
7. If he runs crossing route, make sure you reroute him good, and communicate with an "in" call, drop to your zone, 12-15 yards, pick up the next threat to your zone.
8. While LBs should not stare at the QB, they need to check him throughout the play to adjust their drops accordingly. If he rolls out, LB drops should adjust accordingly.
During tech time we break the above steps down step by step. All I have them do first is take their read steps and stop. Then I have them take their read steps and get their eyes on their first threat. Then I have them wall inside receiver etc, etc. You can move through the progression quickly once LBs get the technique down. I have found over the years, players learn faster if you break the overall technique down into small chunks.
Outside backers should be aggressive with inside receivers. Collision receivers off the line of scrimmage, and provide underneath coverage curl to flat. I honestly have begun to prefer cover 2 to cover 3. That way your corners can be more aggressive in run support, have help over the top with your safeties, and your outside linebackers don't have to vacate to the flat in a hurry because the corners are there. This allows OLBs to help out on the quick slant that lots of teams like to run. We teach our OLBs to drop under the slant right now if inside receiver runs a quick out. QBs don't look for OLBs which results in INTs!
The 4-4 is a flexible defense. We line up in a cover 2 look on most plays, but usually end up rotating our safeties to a strength or over the top of a particularly dangerous receiver. You can replace your OLBs with DBs easily for a nickel and dime look in passing situations. Good luck!
Post a Comment